APHC010443142025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION Between: 1. SRI MAHALAKSHMI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, fg 1. THE STATE OF AP, fg Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, pleased to pleased to issue an order or direction more particularly 5th respondent in directing to close the card room by not permitting the members of the petitioner’s cultural association to play the 13 cards rummy as well as interfering with the day to day activities of the petitioner’s society as illegal, arbitrary, malafide, discriminatory, unconstitutional, violation of Article 14, 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents not to interfere with the day to day activities of the petitioners society including the playing of 13 cards rummy, with stakes (strike game/Syndicate game) and pass such other order or order 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 22480 OF 2025 1. SRI MAHALAKSHMI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, fg ...Petitioner AND ...Respondent Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an order or direction more particularly 5th respondent in directing to close the card room by not permitting the members of the petitioner’s cultural association to play the 13 cards rummy as well as fering with the day to day activities of the petitioner’s society as illegal, arbitrary, malafide, discriminatory, unconstitutional, violation of Article 14, 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents not to to day activities of the petitioners society including the playing of 13 cards rummy, with stakes (strike game/Syndicate game) and pass such other order or order IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA ...Petitioner ...Respondent Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the the High Court may be pleased to issue an order or direction more particularly 5th respondent in directing to close the card room by not permitting the members of the petitioner’s cultural association to play the 13 cards rummy as well as fering with the day to day activities of the petitioner’s society as illegal, arbitrary, malafide, discriminatory, unconstitutional, violation of Article 14, 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents not to to day activities of the petitioners society including the playing of 13 cards rummy, with stakes (strike game/Syndicate game) and 2 IA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased Counsel for the Petitioner: KANUKOLANU SRI SAI SANJAY Counsel for the Respondent GP FOR HOME The Court made the following order: 3 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 22480 OF 2025 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India with the following prayer for: “…pleased to issue an order or direction more particularly 5th respondent in directing to close the card room by not permitting the members of the petitioner’s cultural association to play the 13 cards rummy as well as interfering with the day to day activities of the petitioner’s society as illegal, arbitrary, malafide, discriminatory, unconstitutional, violation of Article 14, 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents not to interfere with the day to day activities of the petitioners society including the playing of 13 cards rummy, with stakes (strike game/Syndicate game) and pass such other order or order…” 2. Heard Sri Konukolanu Sri Sai Sanjay, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri V. Farooq, learned Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents. 3. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner society is duly registered and is conducting lawful cultural and recreational activities including the game of rummy with 13 cards. It is contended that the police are interfering with the said activities without any authority of law and are seeking to prevent the members of the association from playing rummy, despite the same being a game of skill. 4. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, on the basis of written instructions, submits that the petitioner and the society are in fact indulging in illegal gambling activities under the guise of conducting 13-card 4 rummy. It is submitted that in earlier instances also, cases were registered against the petitioner, including Cr.No.148/2011 under Sections 3 and 4 of the A.P. Gaming Act and more recently Cr.No.146/2024 of Anandapuram Police Station, wherein cash of Rs.1,58,000/-, playing cards, and gambling paraphernalia were seized from the premises of the petitioner association. It is further submitted that the petitioner has a history of criminal involvement, including a pending case in Cr.No.561/2021 involving gaming and NDPS offences, and therefore the police action in conducting raids and preventing gambling activities is lawful and justified. The learned Assistant Government Pleader further submitted that petitioner has not furnished the password of CC cameras which are evident in their investigation. 5. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of the Court that the representation furnished contained the CCTV password ‘admin@123,’ along with every other relevant detail regarding the same.” Learned counsel for the petitioner further brought to the notice of this Court, that the subject matter of this Writ Petition is squarely covered by the similar order passed by this Court in W.P.No.23941 of 2024 dated 25.06.2025. 6. For ready reference the operative portion of this order passed in W.P.No.23941 of 2024 dated 25.06.2025 is extracted hereunder: “…the writ petition is disposed of directing the respondent/police not to interfere in the day to day activities of the petitioner club including the card rooms where the petitioner is conducting rummy. The respondent/police authorities are at liberty to periodically 5 check the activities of the petitioner club particularly the card rooms and the CCTV access be extended to the jurisdictional police station. The police are also directed to comply the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in such issues”. 7. Hence, following the said Order passed by this Court in W.P.No.23941 of 2024 dated 25.06.2025 and taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to cots. 8. A copy of the order in W.P.No.23941 of 2024 dated 25.06.2025, shall be annexed to the copy of this Writ Petition. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________________________ Dr. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 08.09.2025 KKV 6 275 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 22480 OF 2025 Dated:08.09.2025 KKV